Christine would not lose count, refused to lose count, of the number of times Gabriele Aiton had hit her with the back of his hand. Every blow to her face was another piece of her soul that wanted to destroy him, another beat of her heart that wanted to tear him limb from limb. Each swipe he took made her more resolute, more determined, that she would be stronger and that she would beat him.
Every time his fist connected with her face she would look back up at him and spit the blood from her broken gum back into his disgusting face. He would smile back at her but she knew that she was getting to him.
Another strike took her by surprise and she reeled, once again, into the bale of hay situated behind her. Again, she jumped straight back to her feet, stood nose to nose with him and showed him she would not give to his brutality.
Her face hurt more than she would ever tell, more than she would ever let him see. She could feel the swelling coming up around her lip and her eyes but never on this earth would she allow him to see her pain. The satisfaction for him would be too much and greatly undeserved.
Once more he hit her across the cheek and once more she defied him by staggering, but not falling, and then facing him once again, prepared for the next blow. She could not deny to herself the pain that she was in but he would not win… he could not win.
'He'll be here soon,' Gabriele said, as he took a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and wiped her blood and saliva from his face.
She stared at him, cold and hard.
'Your friend,' he clarified, but she knew exactly whom he was referring too. 'They're a little late but I have no doubt the guards had a little fun with him before they brought him over,'
She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and jutted her chin out, showing him that she was ready for another punch in the face. This time he just laughed and turned away.
'You're quite a fiery one, aren't you?' he said, without turning around. 'I thought you would be easier to break,'
'You'll never break me,' she said, her heart thumping in her chest.
'Really?'
She nodded her head, although he couldn't see her.
He gestured to the guards to bring Raoul over and, as they dragged him across the floor, she ran forward and threw herself into Gabriele's back sending him spiralling to the floor. Hay flew up as he hit the ground but Christine was still on his back, punching his sides as hard as she could with her fists.
Gabriele tried to stand but she would not let go, she let her body weight remain on him as she pummelled relentlessly at his sides and then at his head. Benjamin, who had stood in shock for longer than he knew he should, bolted over had grabbed her under the arms hauling off his boss' back.
She kicked out at him hard until he yelped in pain and dropped to the floor grasping at his shin. She turned to continue her assault on Gabriele but she was too late, he was standing and as she ran towards him his fist connected with her shoulder and sent her back down to the cold ground.
He rubbed the side of his head as he stared down at her. 'Stupid girl,'
Raoul was looking at her, too weak to stand, too tired to speak, but his eyes were alive with terror.
'I've had enough of this,' Gabriele snarled, grabbing Benjamin by the arm. 'Make yourself useful and go and look out for the others, they should be here by now,'
Benjamin took another look at Christine before he limped out through the main doors to the barn.
'Right,' Gabriele turned his attention back to Christine. 'You have trodden on my last nerve now,'
'Did I hurt you?' she asked, mocking him.
He swung for her again but this time she managed to move aside and she could almost feel Raoul breath out in relief.
'Tie her up,'
'No,' Raoul managed and Christine looked over to him.
'Shut him up, he should be almost dead by now!' Gabriele snapped. 'Can't get the staff,'
Gerry looked over at him helplessly. 'I can't tie her and watch him at the same time,'
Gabriele groaned. 'Tie him first,'
Gerry waited, as if he couldn't quite work out what to do next.
'Then tie her,' Gabriele sighed.
Without saying anything else Gerry pulled a long length of twine from his pocket and set to work binding Raoul's ankles. Despite being weak Raoul kicked out but Gerry was in much better condition and simply held him down.
Finally, he tied her fiancés wrists and left him propped up against the wall in the corner of the room. As he turned his attention to Christine two of the other members of Gabriele's group entered the room with Benjamin at their side.
'Any sign of them?' Gabriele asked, as his eyes flicked to the gun Benjamin was now holding.
Benjamin said nothing.
One of the younger looking workers answered for him, 'The barn was set alight,'
Gabriele stared at him for a long moment, a fleeting glimpse of confusion crossing his features. 'What of the guards?'
'Feared dead,' Benjamin said, obviously relaying what the other two had told him.
'Dare I ask..?'
'There is no sign of Erik Lambourne,'
Gabriele kicked out in rage, catching a clump of hay, sending it flying up into the air. 'Didn't they drug him!'
'I drugged him,' Gerry answered.
'Obviously not enough,' Gabriele snapped. 'You bloody idiots,'
They all looked down at their feet and Christine felt a sudden warmth creep into her chest. She even noticed that Raoul's eyes had widened at the news that Erik was no longer in their captivity.
'I told you,' Christine said.
Gabriele spun around to face her.
'I said he would come for me,' she explained. 'And he is,'
And then Gabriele did something that chilled Christine to the core of her soul. He began to laugh.
There is no sign of Erik Lambourne.
Raoul let the sound, the tone of those words tingle in his ears for a few seconds after they had been spoken. It would appear that the Phantom of the Opera was now free and, if he was a man of his word at all, he was on his way to them now.
On his way to rescue Christine.
Raoul could feel the energy draining out of him every second he lay on the floor, every time the rope dug into his wrists, every kick he received took a little but more away from him. He was almost positive that he wouldn't make it out of the barn alive but now there was hope for Christine and Raoul simply allowed that thought sink in.
What confused him now, though, was the sound of Gabriele's cold laughter.
'You were right,' Gabriele conceded, staring at Christine, who stared back with equal ferocity. 'He is coming for you,'
Christine nodded her head. 'He'll kill you,'
Again, Gabriele laughed. 'I expect he will try,'
This time Christine's sarcastic laughter filled Raoul's senses. 'He will try! He will succeed, Monsieur,'
Raoul had never heard Christine speak this way before, with such venom, such animosity. Her eyes were cold and her mouth bitter but Raoul hung to every word as if it were his very own lifeline. The sound of her voice was keeping him sane.
'I will be long gone by the time he gets here,' Gabriele said to her and Raoul felt confusion creep into him. 'But still… you three,' he pointed at Benjamin and the other two brutes, 'Go outside and guard the perimeter, we wouldn't want Monsieur Fantome to sneak up on us now, would we?'
The three men quickly looked at each other and then exited the barn in different directions. Once they were gone Gabriele instructed Gerry to go and fetch his sword.
'Wouldn't you prefer your pistol?' Gerry asked.
Gabriele simply stared at him.
'Not for this, no,' Gabriele smiled at Christine and Raoul felt his blood boil through his veins. 'I won't be here by the time Erik graces us with his presence.'
'Then what is the sword for?' Gerry asked, but Raoul needed no explanation.
Gabriele sighed and grabbed Christine by the hair, flinging her to the ground next to Raoul. He pressed his body to hers, feeling her warmth run through him. She smelt of fight and spirit and he loved her even more for it.
'We're cutting our losses Gerry,' Gabriele explained.
'No money?'
'Not at this rate,'
'Are you scared of him?' Gerry asked.
'Don't be a fool,' Gabriele snapped but Raoul saw the cruel colour of fear in his eyes. 'Get my sword,'
Gerry left through the door he had entered in, leaving the barn with just the three of them. Raoul struggled against his binds but it was no use, they were too tight and Gabriele was so eagle eyed there was no way that Christine would be able to untie him without the other man noticing.
Gabriele began to pace.
'He's frightened,' Christine whispered, her hand resting on his forearm.
Raoul almost laughed. 'He isn't frightened, my love, he's utterly petrified,'
Christine smiled and squeezed his arm. 'He's going to kill us,'
'How far away do you think the Phantom… I mean, Erik … how far away do you think Erik is?'
Christine's sigh told the whole story. 'He was badly hurt… I really have no idea,'
'Lets hope not too far,'
She nodded. 'Let us hope,'
'You'll be save, Christine,' Raoul whispered. 'He will kill me first and Erik will make it in time to rescue you,'
'He'll be here for you too,'
Raoul looked at her, feeling a sadness wash over him. 'I'm not sure I'll make it,'
'Don't talk like that, Raoul,'
'I'm being truthful,' he said softly. 'I feel so tired,'
'He'll be here soon, I'm sure of it,'
As Raoul was about to give his answer, to declare his love for her, to tell her that she should move on from him, that she should not mourn him… the door burst back open and Gerry placed Gabriele's sword into his boss' hand.
Gabriele stared down the length of the glimmering metal and smiled. 'I was hoping that this would last a little longer,' he said, looking over then at Raoul and Christine.
'He's coming,' Christine said simply, just as Raoul didn't think it possible to love her anymore.
'I only wish I could stick around to see him,'
'But you can,' she said, her tone mocking and rocking the very foundations he stood on.
'Stand him up,' Gabriele said to Gerry, ignoring Christine's comment. Raoul felt strong hands under his arms as he was pulled roughly to his feet and pushed towards Gabriele. 'You're first,'
'I had no doubt that I would be,' Raoul said simply, feeling for the first time, a fear for his own life. He took a quick glance back at Christine, seeing tears well up into her glorious eyes. 'Do your worst,'
Gabriele lunged at Raoul but even with his hands tied, even as tired as he felt, he wanted to live. Raoul jumped to the side and Gabriele missed him by a few inches.
'That was very funny,' Gabriele said, looking over at him.
'You didn't think I would just stand here did you?' Raoul asked.
'Of course not,' Gabriele smiled, turning the sword in his hands. 'It's all in the name of good sport,'
'In the name of good sport why don't you hand me a sword and untie one of my hands?' Raoul joked.
Gabriele laughed. 'You think you could beat me with one hand behind your back,'
Raoul simply smiled at him.
'I don't have time for that,'
Christine screamed. 'No!'
'Shut her up,'
'Please don't!' she shouted, sending echoes around the barn.
'Shut her up…'
'Gerry raised his hand to strike Christine across the cheek but as his hand came back a voice cut into the bleakness of the room.
'Gerry,' it said. 'That isn't a very wise idea,'
And Raoul suddenly knew that Christine was finally safe.